La Feria high school transgender student gets OK for photo

Updated 6:20 pm, Friday, November 15, 2013

LA FERIA — La Feria Independent School District on Friday said it will allow a photo of transgender student Jeydon Loredo dressed in a tuxedo to be published in the high school yearbook.

The 18-year-old Loredo wore a tuxedo, like all other boys in the school district, for his senior photo, but was later told it did not meet “community standards” and would not be allowed in the yearbook.

Loredo and his mother, Stella, took their case to the Human Rights Campaign, an advocate for equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, and the family is now represented by the Southern Poverty Law Center, a national civil rights organization.

La Feria Superintendent Ray Villarreal issued a statement that dress code issues are complicated and require balancing “perceived community standards and individualized requests,” adding that Loredo “was never in danger from being excluded.”

Loredo was represented by Alesdair Ittelson, attorney for the law center, who applauded the district's decision.

“We are very pleased that the school district has recognized Jeydon for who he is and will allow his photo in the yearbook along with all his classmates,” Ittelson said. “This is as a signal to other school districts that transgender students should be recognized as important members of their communities rather than ostracized and subjected to discrimination.”